In recent weeks, three key milestones have been met by Australia Pacific LNG, representing strong progress across the breadth of the CSG-LNG project.
Hydrotesting of LNG tanks on Curtis Island has commenced, construction of the main gas transmission pipeline has been completed, and the gas from the recently commissioned Condabri Central gas processing facility is now being delivered into the gas network.
Page Maxson, Australia Pacific LNG CEO said: “These three milestones mark very definitive steps in the progress we are making in the gas fields, on the pipeline and at the LNG facility on Curtis Island.”
On Curtis Island, the first of the LNG tanks commenced hydrotesting, a process that takes up to 26 days per tank and requires filling the tanks with water to test its ability to hold its weight.
“Testing the integrity, quality and stability of the LNG storage tanks is a crucial part of ensuring they are ready to receive the first LNG, and we are pleased that our tank construction has reached this point,” Mr Maxson said.
Construction of the main high pressure gas transmission pipeline was safely and successfully completed and it is now being progressively placed into service.
“The pipeline is a critical piece of infrastructure linking the gas fields with the LNG facility. That we have now completed 530km of pipeline construction, with a relentless focus on personal and process safety, is a significant milestone,” Mr Maxson said.
Following construction and commissioning in June, gas from Condabri Central Train 1 is now being delivered into the domestic gas network together with gas from Australia Pacific LNG’s existing Spring Gully and Talinga facilities. Condabri Central is the first of seven new gas processing facilities being constructed.
These construction milestones play a critical role in the delivery of first LNG exports in mid 2015, with gas from Condabri Central delivered to Curtis Island through the pipeline system where it will be liquefied and shipped to Asia.